I Have a Confession

I'm watching the Winter Olympics, even though it apparently isn't the 'cool' thing to do, according to some sports writers on ESPN.com. Some have said that it's the Olympics where they have sports that really aren't sports. And to them I say, what about your coverage of Bass Fishing, Log Cutting and Poker? Yep, don't think they're sports but you still provide in-depth coverage for them. Then others say they can't watch the Olympics because it's tape delayed and they don't want to wait when they could just go to ESPN.com or NBCOlympics.com and find out the results. And to that, I say suck it. Sure, earlier today I read that Apolo won the short track and got the bronze in the team relay event. But that didn't stop me from watching the races. In fact, right now NBC is running the taped relay event. I have no idea how it's gonna work, but it looks interesting.

They just hit the gun. Gotta watch.

And they just said there's 30 more laps. I think I got the jist of it. You don't see the butt push in track relays. It would be more interesting if they had to pass a baton. Like what would happen if one of the racers licked the baton because, like the Visa commercial says, Life Takes Curiosity? Would there be a back-up baton one of the racers can take out there, with like a half lap penalty? Or would the next racer just have to pull the baton really hard during the exchange?

Ok, right now I just have to say that the crowd is cheering way too loud right now. There's a lot more laps and they can't get much louder. I think they peaked too early.

Korea just won and I think the crowd got quieter. There should be some sign to 'Pump up the Volume' appropriately. Not when the crowd feels like it.

Also, I am still convinced there should be no announcers. Right now I want to watch the racers celebrating and listening to the crowd chant whatever they feel like chanting. Not listening to the announcers try and explain what's going on. I can see what is going on. I say lets do away with all those announcers. There's enough graphics out there to explain everything I need to know.

And I'm getting sick of Bode Miller. Nike ran another one of his ads today, but I think it's one they threw together at the last minute so people don't think they wasted a ton of advertising money on him. Bode starts talking about how he doesn't care about the medals and he's only racing to race. And yet he couldn't even do that well. Ok, yes, he's on the Olympic team, he must be good. He's better than me. But come on, if it takes a few did not finishes to make the Olympic team, I'll suit up. These things only happen every four years, I'd at least want to finish the race that I started. But maybe that's just me. Apparently he wanted to have someone else pay for his trip to party in Italy.

I only say this because he's talking with Tom Brokaw right now and I have it muted. I could turn it off, but I really want to see the medal ceremony for the Speed Skating 500. That would make the Olympic experience complete. Listening to the Stars and Stripes one last time.

Oh, and I meant to post this earlier about the lack of real sports. I don't really care if skeleton is considered a sport. I still want to try it. It looks fun as hell.

Also, today I worked and passed the 40 hour mark for the payweek. And I still have Sunday and Monday to work. Last week I had two days off and still passed 50 hours for the week. And that means I won't get a paycheck. The taxes from my tips will negate any paycheck I shall receive. Which I think is stupid. The tips should be voluntary, not my paycheck. That would ensure better service. If I wasn't moving kinda soon I would think about talking to someone important about getting that changed.

And I just heard the anthem. My Olympic viewing is complete. And they just interviewed Apolo and I muted it again. I don't care about the human beings behind the athletes and what the medal means to them. I only care about them winning more medals. Stop talking and start training. The next Olympics are 4 years away and you aren't getting any younger.

Ok, I'm done now. And apparently, the Olympics are too.

Oh, and mom, I thought I did send it to you. Or at least told you. But I do know the three other ones you just sent. Perhaps I will remember to write them down and send you what I know.

Ok, done again. I swear.

I'm A Little Ticked

So today I went into work at 12. Ok, actually it isn't today as it is the 17th and I'm talking about the 16th. But because I have not yet gone to sleep and woken up, nor has the sun come up, when I say today I mean the 16th and not the 17th. We clear?

Anyway, today I woke up and went to work at 12. I was supposed to work till A, which means as soon as the dinner rush is over I get to be the first wait to leave. It's not a set time, but I'm usually out by 8, at the latest.

So I'm working, doing my stuff, and 4 o'clock rolls around. At this time I'm supposed to have two more servers show up and keep me company. Both of which were supposed to show up yesterday. And didn't. I'm gonna let you know what both of them did. They both didn't show up. So now it's just me and we are getting closer and closer to the start of the dinner rush.

(Also I was supposed to learn how to do the 4 o'clock shift change money count and paperwork, but my manager was elbow deep in a clogged drain at the time. Couldn't really learn the paperwork when she's doing that.)

At 5 the closer shows up, at least there's another wait. But it's only us, and it's not looking like there's gonna be anyone else. Tuesday and Wednesday kicked our asses this week and we were not prepared for another one. Things were not looking good. The manager was calling someone who said they would be around to come in, but he wasn't answering and it's looking like he isn't coming in. Not good.

But it was alright, kinda. One of the cooks helped us bus some tables and I don't think we had a 20 minute table. Which is awesome. But I was running around and freaking out at the manager who was in turn freaking out at us because we aren't seating the door when we have to put the orders in for the pizzas so they can be made and out on the table in under 20 minutes. But we got through that and then the real fun started.

Normally all the waits have a set amount of work to do based on their order of getting off tables. And it all depends on the number of waits present. These lists, however, are going off the assumption there's a minimum of 3 waits.

We didn't have that minimum.

So I, as an employee working through the ranks, felt the best course of action would be to split the work that needed to be done in order to close the wait side in half and proceed from there. So I grabbed, literally, all the knives and forks that had been used that night and washed them in order to roll them all in their little cacoons to be on the tables. This is a job everyone hates. It isn't hard, it's just tedious and time consuming. So I took it upon myself to do this because it gave me the opportunity to sit down for awhile. Yeah, how about an hour. That's how long it took.

Meanwhile the other wait is closing only his side of the dining room (my side only had the tables cleaned and ready to be set, but none had been closed for the night). In order to close a table one must make sure the shakers are all filled, there's enough placemats, silverware and plates, the candle is out and the floor is vacuumed around it. I was hoping he would do all the tables that needed this to be done to, not just those in his section if there were 3 waits on, but he stopped at his imaginary line. In fact there is one table that straddles the line. He did his half, but didn't put one plate and one silverware wrapping down that would have closed my side. Then he pulled the vacuum out and only did his half.

And I was going to write more, but it's getting late and I need some freaking sleep. Luckily I was working with Amy and was able to vent as soon as he left, so I feel a little better. But, I think, the only thing I can really be mad at him for, not because I thought we would split it all up 50-50, but because he was only doing what the closing wait was to do, and didn't even do all that. And he went out of his way to make sure he didn't do anything to help me at all. He had to sweep and mop the front tiles. There's a rug that's I'm supposed to roll up first, before he can sweep it. Instead of him rolling the rug up, he pulls it halfway into the dining room, folds it in half, and leaves it there. I was irate.

So really, I guess it's stuff like that that bothers me. That instead of doing a little thing to help me, he's only worrying about himself. And then he still doesn't do all he has to do and it dicks me over because I'm opening tomorrow and what he didn't do I still have to do in the morning. So I'm a little angry right now. And I should stop typing.

And yes, I realize this probably makes no sense, but that's what I do best. I still haven't read my last post, I'm too scared to read what I wrote, just because I have no idea what I said and what I tried to say.

But on a lighter note, I was talking to Amy and she told me I should move to Arizona because she had the chance to move to Oregon to go to art school and she didn't take it and she wonders about it now. Things might be worse than they are, but they could also be better. And that's what she worries about. So she told me that since I can and want to move that I should do it. I shouldn't let someone or something hold me back here, that I should go ahead and move. So that's what I'm gonna do. I emailed a person about an opening in an apartment and I'm waiting to hear back from them. It looks promising and I'm crossing my fingers. After this I'll have to start looking for a job. But that's for another post.

So, I just want to say it, I hate Steve and Chris, just so you know.

I'm Tired. This Rambles. You've Been Warned.

So it's 3:30 here and I can't sleep. You know what that means? Random post that will probably not make sense in the morning. And awwaaaaay we go!

So I started my new old job at Pizza Hut. It's new because it's a different Pizza Hut, the one in Finksburg. It's old because it's still Pizza Hut where I worked for two years before heading to PA. It's new because now I'm waiting tables and eventually learning to run shift. It's old because my manager, assistant manager and one of the shift leaders I previously worked with in Eldersburg. So it's like Eldersburg north. Except the Eldersburg Pizza Hut is now a Bistro so the Pizza Hut I'm working at now is not like the Pizza Hut I worked at before because the Bistro has less pizza and more pastas and sandwiches. Haven't had them before, but I'm sure they are good. I'm waiting for someone to come visit then I can take them out for a very, um, special dinner at the Bistro (and still get the 20% off. I'm a cheapskate, I know.)

But back to the waiting of the tables. Or should I say the 'taking care of our customers.' We should start calling them guests. Because really, that is what they are. We are inviting them in with invitations (ads) and greeting them like welcomed guests into our stores. Then we make them food and engage in some great conversations. So they are guests. Kind of. But anyway, I am waiting tables for the Finksburg Pizza Hut, and you know what, I enjoy it. Of course this is gonna jinx me, crap.

But this waiting experience is much better than my one at Eldersburg (you know, the one where I refused to wait tables again and only cooked). And I don't know why. I was kinda hesitant to accept the job as a wait, but I needed a job and figured I could weasel my way back into cooking again. Except I didn't count on Finksburg having a mass shortage of wait staff. So I'm waiting tables and making much, much better money than Eldersburg. In fact, I'm making enough money to buy not one, but two girlie drinks this weekend.

But in all seriousness, my wallet is full of ones and it makes me look rich. So full in fact, I had to take some of the money out and place it in a safe place that is not the bank. (Why not the bank, well that's an interesting story. I think I'll tell it. Right. Now.

So I was going to bank and I had a small talk relationship with the teller. She's cute and I thought she was 22. Then I found out she is divorced and has two kids. Then I told her that I was not going to be there as often as now I would get paid every two weeks instead of every week. She said I could still come in, you know, with the tips that I get. And I thought that was a great idea. And before I left and before she went to Arby's for lunch she gave me a hug. And I haven't been there since. But it's only because it's been a week since I was last in there and I haven't had time to go. Well I have, it's just I don't want to go on Fridays because it's always busy in there with people depositing their pay checks for the weekend. Kinda like what I did. So I haven't been there since then, although I will go there soon. I think. But I did find something out before she went to lunch that fateful day. I found out she's 27. It's amazing. She doesn't look 27. And I told her that. Kinda because she honestly doesn't look 27 and kinda because Shand told me to say that because it would make her feel better. I think it did. I think. But only because I don't know what girls think. I'd quote a very smart man, Marten Reed, on this, but I don't know the exact quote and I don't feel like looking for it. But it goes something like this: When asked how he would know if a woman was interested in him, he replied "Short of her getting on my lap and humping me? Nothing." And if he didn't say that then I said it. And it's true. So I don't know what she was thinking or what she's thinking or the like. But I found out she's 27 and has two kids and the assistant manager likes taking the deposit over there and talking to her and my manager thought us two would fight over being able to make the deposit. But since I'm gonna be running shift I'll get to take the deposit over there and then we shall see what happens. Or I'll just deposit my tips and I'll see what happens then also. Either way something is gonna happen and I'm gonna have tips.

And speaking of tips, I'm making more of them and have more bills in my billfold. And I don't know why. Like on Friday I was working pre-close and I had over 50 dollars in tips for the night so far when the closer had only 25 dollars. It was weird because she was a girl and girls always make the better tips. Always. So I was feeling pretty good about the tips I was making and the fact I'm actually talking to people around my age. Ok, actually they are younger than me, young like they can't buy cigarettes, but they are still closer in age to me than my previous co-workers. Although I do find it a bit odd that if you are younger than 18 you have to take a 30 minute break. In fact the computer makes you take a break. And if you try and log back in before 30 minutes is up it won't allow you. Where the hell were these computers when I was under 18? But one of the girls I work with won't turn 18 for another 10 months or so (I am not counting, she told me right out when I told her I was turning 21 soon) and has to take the breaks by law. Doesn't matter that she can give birth and take care of her baby on her own, but when she is working she has to take a break. Something tells me the baby doesn't offer the same courtesy. It's not a knock on her, I just think it's rather funny. Hilarious even.

So I'm making good tips on Friday night. Probably the highest total of any of the 4 waits. Yep, 4 waits on tables that Friday night. Not like the 9 or so we had on at Eldersburg. And the interesting part was there was an equal number of guys and girls waiting tables. That never happened at Eldersburg. It was a good day when there was one male wait, nevermind 2. And yes, I am complaining.

So at the end of the night I was just playing with the computer. We got a new computer system for Pizza Hut. It's pretty cool, much easier (in a teamwork stand point) than the tickets with the old system. This way you can place a salad order in and instead of telling someone the order it goes to a screen above the salad bar. This way, instead of me begging someone to make a salad for me because I am swamped, a wait can take a look at the screen when they don't have anything to do and start making the salad the way I typed it in. Great feature. That saved my butt a few times Friday night, and I made sure to return the favor. Of course it doesn't help that it only goes by initials of the wait and I was working with a Steve, a Stephanie and a Sarah. I need to learn some last names.

Also, the computer system is bad because I still have to write the order at the table on a piece of paper, then walk to the computer terminal and type it in. Given the size and complexity of the order it can take upwards of 5 minutes to complete the entire order and get it in the system. Doesn't sound too bad, except we have a 20 minute guarantee with all dine in orders. If it isn't out to the table in 20 minutes or less than it's half off the bill. And I get a lashing for each dollar they save. At least that's what I'm told. So I take the order at the table and tell them the time on the clock in the dining room. I then take the ticket back, type it in and hit 'Enter.' Once I hit 'Enter' the order is sent to Make Table and the Salad Bar. However, only when it's entered is the time set in the computer. So when I 'Enter' the order Make table thinks they have 20 minutes to make the order and get it out to me. But in actuality they only have 15 minutes. And with a 10 minute oven, that would be cutting it close on a busy night with lots of other orders to worry about. So I think we should get a palm pilot like device where I can type the order in at the table and 'Enter' it as I'm telling them the time. Then I get the order the full 20 minutes.

Except when I tell them the time and I write it down and all of a sudden the time changes (funny how it keeps on marching) and then the kids at the table (the same ones that wrote me a love note and left it with the manager so I would have to read it to the manager and the other waits if I wanted to get my credit card tips) tell me about the time change and that means they now have 19 minutes or the bill is half off. Luckily I had them mesmerized with my awesome serving skills that they didn't bother to look at the time when I brought the pizzas because I'm pretty sure that one was a 20 minuter-plus. So I got lucky on that one. And the one where the grandmother scolded the little girl for keeping track of the time when I was one minute late with their food and she pointed it out. I would have given them the half off, but the grandmother wouldn't allow me. I didn't feel bad for me, only for the little girl. She looked thoroughly frightened. She probably won't ever fight to get anything on time or early the rest of her life because of one traumatic experience at Pizza Hut. And of course I blame the grandmother. I was gonna give them the bill half off. I know the procedure, I had a few of them in Eldersburg. Ok, more than a few. I think that's why they went to Bistro, now they don't have the 20 minute deal, and the food take FOREVER long to get there. Apparently. I haven't been there yet to order food.

But there was one thing that was good with the tickets that kinda is good with the computers but not really. With the tickets under the old system I had to gather all the tickets and add up all the bills. Then I had to staple them all together with the total and my tips for the night. Doing that helped the manager who was closing, helped the IRS and me to figure out how much I was making on average in tips compared to my gross. Was I making 15%? Less? More? This was important information. Information I don't get with the computers because I don't have to do that before I log out. All I have to do is log out, tell them if I had a meal or not and enter my total in tips. Easy, but I have no idea how I am doing on the night compared to the bills. I can only go off of what the other waits have done. Sure, I made more than the others, but is that because I was a better wait or because I had more tables? These things I need to know. If only to brag.

So I was supposed to be learning how to close, and instead I was just messing with the reports and tools the computer does that makes the closing manager's life much easier. The closer had no idea what some of the reports were, so I decided to read a few. And read I did. And I found the one I was looking for. It gave me a reading of what my tables paid for their meals, but it gave me so much more. It gave me how much everyone else grossed (but not their tips) and how much each one grossed in carry out orders. But I was only interested in my dine ins. And so I saw my list. It gave me my gross, and so much more. It told me what time I 'Entered' the order, and what time they were rung up. It gave me the total time each table was there, the average time my tables were in the dining room and the number of guests at each table. It also told me the total tables I had and the total persons all night I waited on (except that number was skewed as my last table had 45 people due to a typing error on my part). It told me the total bill for each table, if they used coupons and the amount they paid for the bill if they did use coupons. The average amount spent by my guests and probably a few other note worthy facts that are so note worthy that I forgot them. All I cared about was the gross of all the bills combined and the net of all the bills combined (after coupons).

And behold, they were there. And I was happy. And I rejoiced. So I did a few calculations on the number cruncher, and I became unhappy. See, the manager that I had worked with in Eldersburg had told me I was making good tips for Eldersburg and especially for Finksburg. And that made me feel good and probably inflated my ego a bit. So this is why I was looking for the gross, just to see what I was doing in regards to my tips. But perhaps I was being too greedy. For gross, I made 19% in tips. For net I made 21%. And as I write it now I don't feel as bad, but at the time it was a shock. I know the average for tips is 15% and I am doing above average service, but I was hoping for higher than 20% gross. Unless of course we did the net total in Eldersburg, and then I have nothing to worry about. But I think we did gross and that would put me not so much over the average, although it is still above my results as a wait in Eldersburg. So I guess all is not lost. And I am having fun. Knock on wood.

And it took me an hour to write over 2500 words. I know, I'm tired, this doesn't make sense and my hands are tired, but I had to check out the words count. If this was a paper, it would put me past the half way point on the fourth page. You can't beat that with a 7 foot 2 inch stick.

Now it's time to go to sleep. Perhaps I'll check out the new gym opening up around her. I think it's time to get back to working out. Here's to hoping they have a two month plan.

Also, just so she doesn't feel left out. My ankles (and knees) are finally starting to go back to not being thick. I'm not used to all this standing and walking. Or maybe I just need custom shoe inserts. Boo for thick ankles.

And I remembered the spell checker. I am not, however, going to guarantee it's accuracy. Because we all make mistakes.

So, How Do I Compare?

I was reading my book, 1453, that I had mentioned earlier, and I got to the day the Ottoman forces storm the walls of Constantinople in mass. It's getting exciting, and then I read this passage:

"He [Mehmet, Sultan of the Ottomans] addressed them in the collbeoquial, paternal tones a twent-one year old sultan could rightly adopt with his tribe..."

And I first start to think that I've been writing the word sultan wrong as it shouldn't be capitalized like I did in the first paragraph. But then it really hits me, when Sultan Mehmet took the Holy Christian city of Constantinople he was only 21. Twenty freakin One.

I'm gonna be 21 in 10 days and what have I managed to do? Well I haven't taken a city, that's for sure. (At least I think he takes the city. I haven't finished the book yet, but I think it can be assumed he won, unless the author throws in a plot twist or two.)

Granted I still have 375 days to take a city by force in order to compare to the Sultan, but he spent over a year planning for the siege and creating siege weapons. Yep, not doing that in the garage.

But why should I be comparing myself to some Sultan who ruled 600 years ago? It's not like I can impress him by taking over Sydney.

But boy the stories I could tell if I were to take it.

So, I Was Just Passing This Cart...

..and I had another spur of the moment thingy. Apparently I get them a lot. I don't know, I think it's me trying to tell myself something. Anyway, I was walking through Towson Town Center (big place by the way) and I saw one of those kiosk thingies (which are apparently a good way for immigrants to get a hold of a new business. Or so I think I had heard someone say after reading something.) that was selling this. Now it wasn't only selling this, in fact I think there was only one of these for sale, but there were a lot of other languages. And I thought about stopping and browsing it, just to see the cost. However, my fear of people stopped me from stopping and kept me going past.

My name is Brian, and I have a problem with people. I will admit it. Especially sales-people. I don't know what it is. Maybe I feel I have to buy something if someone comes around and asks if I need any help. They are there and I don't want to waste their time by not buying anything, even if I am only there to look at something. Or maybe it's their fake niceness in the interest of trying to sell me something. You know, how they come around the corner of an aisle, see you staring intently at a product or two and jar you from you thought process with a 'Can I help you?' And they always catch me off guard, even if I know it's coming. I can't help it. So I always stammer out a 'No, I'm ah, ah just looking.' And then they are gone to torment some other sap never to be around when I actually need some help. Maybe I should just tell them that I am just looking and they should come back in 5 minutes and by then I might be ready. That way I can peruse and compare in solitude until the time I am ready and I won't have to go find someone. That's my plan.

But back to the language thing. I saw it and I was interested. I've been interested in Islamic architecture and the use of mosaics and geometric figures for awhile. In fact I was contemplating asking the LVC Study Abroad office if they could help me get to Istanbul. That would be a fun semester. I just might not have come back. Of course I never asked because I hate asking questions I don't know the answer to or could be answered with a laugh. It all goes back to my hatred of people I don't know.(Actually I think most of my questions can be answered that way, which is why I don't ask them.) And then I didn't go back to LVC, so it wouldn't matter now anyway. But I would like to go to Istanbul and Turkey someday, if only on my own. I am reading a book, 1453, about the city and I have only gotten more interested. But I feel I should have some basic language skills (200 hours of instruction, depending on learning style!) if I were to go.

So I was looking at it today online and it costs 200 bucks, depending on the seller. And it's only a level 1 course. (Although I guess it's less than a college course and I can do it on my own time.) Now there is a 6 month online thing that I could do for less than that, but do I really want the online thing? I know what's gonna happen. I'm gonna start up, do a couple of lessons and get bored with it. 5 months are gonna pass and I'm gonna start flippin out because I didn't use the full of the program and I'm gonna bum-rush the last lessons until the 6 months is up. Cramming at the last minute is no way to learn a language, even though it's an acceptable way to study for a test or write a term paper.

So now I sit here and contemplate purchasing this product, just to see what it is like. There is a 6 month garuntee, so maybe I will drop to Bens on this. Maybe. But I'm gonna have to get a new job first.

Ah yes, I quit the construction job. Not so much because of the work, if only because of the person who knew what he was doing. I'm not gonna go through it all, only highlight my last day as an example of what I went through.

Lets set the scene here: There are 4 workers (there were 3 until I put in my notice, the 4th being my replacement in training). One, the guy who know everything (Bud, lets say) has been doing this work for 40 years or something like that. The next guy is 40, doing this work for 2 years, bricklaying before that. Then there is me and the replacement. It's Friday so we have to clean the deck where we are working of sawdust, nails and other pieces of wood and stuff. Really clean it. Also, we have to move all the power tools to either the basement or the Bud's truck. So here we are all cleaning up. Most of the stuff goes in Bud's truck, so we all put stuff over there. Me and the replacement with some of the heavier equipment, the 40 year old with tools everyone has used, and Bud with his one tool bag. We place the stuff and go get more. Bud stays and puts his stuff away. And then he stays. After the tools are all away I grab a broom and start sweeping. I clean the one side of the deck, the replacement gets the other. The 40 year old is grabbing some wood scraps and heading to the dumpster. Bud is at his truck. The replacement grabs a trashcan and takes what we have swept and cleans it up. I head for the deck stairs to the ground. At this point Bud comes back. He starts saying things like "Don't forget that right there, and this has to be throw away and the brooms need to be put in my truck."

Did he grab any of what he just pointed out? Nope. He just stood there. And then the 40 year old reminds him someone has to go through and lock up. (Before this goes any further, I just want to tell you this is not a monumental action. The locking up involves the basement sliding door and the front door as well as turning out the lights. It's not hard work. I can easily do it. But....) Bud looks at him and says this:

"Brian can do it. We taught him how to do it and we'll teach [the replacement] to do it next week."

First off, how freaking hard is it to lock two doors? I didn't need to be taught. I put the freaking doors in in the first place, I know they lock and the are bolted to the floor.

Second, and most importantly, why didn't Bud do this? Here I am sweeping. The replacement is sweeping and then taking the trash to the dumpster. The 40 year old is fixing the tarp and taking wood siding to the dumpster. The only one not doing anything is Bud. He is just standing on the deck like a commander on the mountain overlooking his troops. Only he doesn't know there is about to be a mass desertion amongst the ranks (Did I mention the 40 year old is going to be quiting soon? Only he isn't giving his two week notice like I did. Ouch.)

So I finished the sweeping of the stairs and the patio. I hand over the broom and step inside. I take my time, I'm in no hurry. I mean, the locking of a door is a very involved process that only I can do. Apparently. I lock the door, head upstairs and write the owner of the house a very nice note thanking her for the hot chocolate and the brownies she provided for us. Satisfyed I take one last look at the Zepra inspired wallpaper (awesome wallpaper, probably even better on acid) and head outside.

I was finally free from Bud and his idiotic ideas on work (you know the one, where I do all his work so he can stand around and look at things and talk to himself). But that also means I am looking for a new job. Perhaps something in the restaurant field. I used to work in one and it was a blast. I also would like to work with people my own age. Or around there, if possible. So I shall start searching.

And coming back to the idea that I do things on the spur of the moment, I'm not sure about Arizona yet. I mean, I still need to get away. Arizona State has what I am looking for and apparently it's really pretty, but I just had a pretty good weekend. I spent it with people my age, that I am friends with and that I would miss in Arizona. Perhaps I am going for all the wrong reasons, but really, what would the right reasons be? In life there are always people that I'm going to be leaving, no matter what.

Maybe I just need to spend the next 2 months with the people I hate and I'll be ready to go.

Also, the baby has until, lets say April 10th to come out or I'm leaving before it's due. That's all I'm saying.

Speaking of babies, that post before about the sequel to Operation Intrigued? Yeah, nothing more has been accomplished, except I did learn this. She just recently (as in the past 2 weeks) finalized her divorce and has kids. Not something I was expecting, that's for sure. Nothing against kids, I enjoy them, especially when they aren't mine (I'm going to be a great Crazy Uncle B.) But that's a little more than I expected and perhaps I am worse at conveying age than I thought. So lets just chalk this one up to a never was. There's a failure and a never was. But I've learned things don't come easy.

(Also, I think this gives Rolph credibility when he says I have ADD. Just look at all the topics. Sure I could have broke them into a few different posts, but I was on a role. It isn't a very cohesive roll, but its a buttered piece of bread anyway. So Rolph may be right there, but he is wrong it that I do not ask too many questions to waitresses. There were more I could have asked, but I refrained. Of course I didn't ask the most important ones, but I still don't ask too many questions.)